A new technique for the investigation of high energy cosmic rays

Abstract

A technique has been developed for the precise location of cosmic rays in a magnetic spectrograph. The technique uses the neon flash tube first introduced by Conversi and his co-workers. In this technique ionising particles give rise to visible flashes in a glass tube containing neon. The thesis describes a systematic study of the flash tubes over a wide range of parameter. Tubes have been constructed having the properties required for operation in a spectrograph and a description is given of the operation of a prototype spectrograph. The accuracy of track location has been found to be at least as great as that in conventional cloud chambers. The theoretical aspect of the operation of the tubes is discussed and a new mechanism is postulated for tubes filled at high pressures. The design and construction of part of the large spectrograph is described.